DUMAGUETE CITY, (PNA) -– Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo has reiterated his appeal to local government units (LGUs) in the province to take pro-active measures days ahead of the projected arrival of a super typhoon in the Philippines’ area of responsibility by Thursday or Friday.
This came as the provincial government is gearing up for the tropical storm, with international code name Haiyan, which threatens to become a super typhoon once it enters the Philippines. The potential super typhoon will be named Yolanda, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Early PAGASA reports saied Yolanda will affect parts of southern Luzon, the Visayas, specifically Samar and Leyte, and northern Mindanao.
Adrian Sedillo, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said the governor’s directive for the pre-positioning of supplies and logistics as well as rescue groups remain in place even after Yolanda’s predecessor, tropical depression Wilma, had changed course on Monday evening.
The PDRRMC had convened for an emergency meeting Monday afternoon in anticipation of Wilma’s arrival; however, the storm had shifted its course and was downgraded to a low pressure area hours later.
According to Sedillo, LGUs are requested to undertake pre-emptive evacuation of residents living in flood-prone and coastal areas and along the river banks and near other bodies of water.
The governor highlighted the role of the different LGUs and their DRRM councils in disaster mitigation, Sedillo said, considering that they are mandated by law to have their individual contingency plans in disaster risk reduction and management.
The governor is also asking the public to pay attention to media advisories on weather updates as other parts of the country in the path of “Yolanda” are already preparing for its arrival, Sedillo said.